Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu pledges further strikes against Lebanon
Netanyahu said in a statement on the social platform X that those who haven’t internalised the new situation in Lebanon were reminded of what he called “Israel’s resolve and determination”.
He said that the equation has changed. And what is that equation? It’s what the Israeli minister of defence described as Kiryat Shmona for Beirut. So any firing at any community in Israel would be met by striking the capital of Lebanon.
And remember, Israel’s understanding of the ceasefire reached in November 2024 with Hezbollah is that Hezbollah would have to disarm. Hezbollah would have to withdraw north of the Litani River, so about 40 kilometres (24.8 miles) north of the border with Israel. And that Israel would have a free hand to strike at Hezbollah targets, at Hezbollah personnel, at will. And it had the green light from the US administration to do that.
So Israel’s interpretation of that ceasefire means that it can continue to strike, and that is exactly what the Israeli ministers and prime minister are promising to do.
Israel undermines its own cause by continuing attacks on Lebanon
Sultan Barakat from Qatar’s Hamad Bin Khalifa University says Israel’s attack on Beirut was “totally” disproportionate after two rockets were fired from southern Lebanon yesterday but never hit any targets.
“They did the same in Gaza, they agree to a ceasefire and close to the end of stage one they start coming up with excuses trying to extend it, and that has led them to this very vague arrangement with the Lebanese and particularly the Americans,” Barakat told Al Jazeera.
The truce signed in November says nothing about disarming Hezbollah or marginalizing the Lebanese group politically, he added, and “these are issues that developed afterwards.
“The difficulty here is as long as Israel continues to disrespect the ceasefire … it undermines the legitimacy of the Lebanese government. They’re really undermining their own cause by continuing to undertake those attacks,” Barakat told Al Jazeera.
US says Lebanese government is responsible for ‘disarming Hezbollah’
As we previously reported, the Axios news outlet quoted US deputy special envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus as saying the Lebanese government is “responsible for disarming Hezbollah and all other terrorists”.
In a press briefing held after Israel on Friday conducted its first strikes on Beirut since November, the US State Department has now reiterated this stance, the Reuters news agency reports, quoting an unnamed spokesperson.
“Israel is defending its people and interests by responding to rocket attacks from terrorists in Lebanon,” the spokesperson said.
“As part of the cessation of hostilities agreement, the government of Lebanon is responsible for disarming Hezbollah and we expect the Lebanese Armed Forces to disarm these terrorists to prevent further hostilities,” they added.
People gather at the site of an Israeli strike in Beirut’s southern suburbs on March 28, 2025
